The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-12-08

tire country.
Under our present laws more than
1000 articles are subject to duty.
Many of. these do not in any
way compete with our own manufac'
lures, and many are hardly worth atten-
ton as subjects of revenue. A consider
able reduction can be made in the aggre-
gate by adding them to the free list. The
taxation of Injuries presents no features
of hardship, but the necessaries of life,
used and consumed by all the people, the
duty upon which adds to the cost of living
in our homes, should be greatly cheapened.
The radical reduction of the duties i'm
posed upon raw material used in manu-
facture, or ON its importation, Ia, of
course, very important factor in an
effort to reduce the price of these neces-
saries.
1t would not only relieve them from the
increased cost caused by the tariff on such
material, but, the manufacture product
being thus cheapened, that part of the
tariff now laid upon such product, as a
com pensation to our manufacturers for
the present price of raw material, could
be accordingly modified. Such reduction,
or free i'm portation, would serve besides
apparent how such change can have any
injurious effect upon our manufacturers
GA the contrary, it would appear to give
them a better chance in foreign
markets with the manufacturers of other
countries, who cheaper their wares by
free material Thus, our people might
have the opportunity of extending their
sales beyond the limits of home con-
sum ption, saving them from depression,
interruption in business, and loss caused
by glutted domestic market, and affori-
ing their employees more certain and
steady labor, with its resulting quiet and
contentment. The question thus impera-
lively presented for solution, should be
approached in spirit higher than parti-
sanship, aud considered in the light of
that regard for patriotic duty, which
should characterize the action of those in
trusted with the veal of confidfng
people. But the obligation to declared
party policy and principles is not wanting
to urge prompt and effective action.
Both the great political parties,now repre-.
scented in the government by repeated and
authoritative declarations, have condemned
the condition of our laws which permits
the collection from the people of an
necessary revenue, and have, in the most
solemn manner, promised its correction,
and neither as citizens or partisans are
our countrymen in a mood to candone
this
DELIBERATE VIOLATION
of these pledges. Our progress toward
wise conclusion will not be improved by
dwelling upon theories of protection and
free trade. 1t savors too much of bandying
epithets. 1t is condition which confronts
us, not theory. Relief from this condi-
ton may involve slight reduction of the
advantages which we award our home pro-
auctions, but the entire withdrawal of such
advantages should not be contem plate d.
The question of free trade is absolutely
irrelevant, and the persistent claim IN
certain quarters that all efforts to relieve
the people from unjust and unnecessary
taxation are schemes of so-called
FREE TRADERS,
is mischievous and far removed from any
consideration for the public good. The
simple and plain duty which we owe the
people is to reduce taxation to
the necessary expenses of an
economical operation of the government
and to restore to the business of the coun-
try the money which we hold in the treas
ury, through the perversion of govern
mental powers. These things can and
should be done with safety to all our in
dustries, without danger to the oportu-
nifty for workingmen, and with benefit tC
them and all our people, by cheapening
their means of subsistence, and increas
ing the measure of their comforts.
STATE OF THE UNION.
The constitution provides that the
president shall, from time to time, give tC
congress information of the state of the
Union. 1t has been the custom of the
executive, in compliance with this pro
vision, to annually exhibit to the
congress at the opening of its session the
general condition of the country, and tC
detail with some particularly the opera
| lions of the different executive depart
ments. 1t would be especially agreeable
to follow this course at the present time
and to call attention to the valuable
accomplishments of these departure
during the last fiscal year, but l am SC
much impressed with the paramount i'm
portence of the subject to which this
comm unication has thus far been devoted
that 1 shall forego the addition of any
other topic, and urge upon your imme-
diate consideration the "state of the
uniOn," as shown in the present condi-
tion of our treasury and our general ifs
cal situation, upon which every element
of our safety and prosperity depends
The reports of the heads of departments
which will be submitted, contain full and
explicit information touching the trans
actions of the business entrusted to them
and such recommendation relating t.
legislation in the public interest as they
deem advisable. 1 ask of you for these
recommendation the deliberate examina-
ton and action of the legislative branch
of the government.
There are other subjects, not embraced
in the department. report, demanding leg
islative consideration, and which 1 should
be glad to submit. Some of them, how
ever, have been earnestly presented in
previous messages, and, as to them, beg
leave to repeat prior recommendations
AS the law makes no privision for any re-
port from the department of state, briei
history of the transactions of that impor-
tant department, together with Other
matters which it may hereafter be deemed
essential TO commend to tine attention OF
! the congress, may furnish the occasion